Vagabond returned to Point Loma Sportfishing under owner-skipper Mike Lackey's hand on December 3, after a ten-day trip with 18 anglers. Three fish were over 200 pounds. "Awesome fishing," was Lackey's comment.

Dan Cash of San Diego had the best fish, a 257-pounder that took a sardine on a 9/0 Eagle Claw hook. "I credit the crew," he said. He used 100-pound Ande line and 130-pound Spectra backing on a Penn 50 SW reel and a home-wrapped Calstar 6455 XH rod. The fish fought for an hour.

Rick Hobbs of Santa Cruz won second place for his 233-pounder, after it beat him up for an hour and a half. He said he fished with a sardine on a 7/0 Eagle Claw hook, with 100-pound Big Game line and 130-pound Iorline Spectra backing on n Avet 50 reel and a Calstar 6455 XXH rod.

"He stayed close," said Hobbs. "He kept charging the boat."

Chris Cruger of Encinitas took 25 minutes to whip a 220.4-pounder. The third-place fish took his sardine on an 8/0 Eagle Claw hook tied to 100-pound Izorline and 80-pound Line One Spectra on a Baker-modified Penn 30 reel and a Calstar 6455 XXH rod.